The Acropolis, located in Athens, Greece, is one of the oldest ruins in Greece and is one of the most recognizable monuments of the world. The word Acropolis in Greek means “The Sacred Rock, The High City”. The Acropolis dominates all views of Athens. It is greatly known for its ancient ruins, and neat architecture. It consists of many different ruins such as The Propylaea, The Temple of Athena Nike, The Parthenon, The Erechtheion, and The Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus. After nearly 2,500 years, the Acropolis has still remained a central attraction to tourists all around the world and still inspires wonder.
The Propylaea:
The Propylaea was built as a monumental entrance to the Acropolis. It was designed and built by a man named Mnesikles, who was a Greek architect at the time. He had started building the Propylaea right after the construction of the Parthenon in 437 B.C. The construction went on for five years until it was stopped due to the Peloponnesian War. At the time the Propylaea was almost done being constructed, but there was some work that remained unfinished. Scholars believed that the construction was stopped to save resources for the war, this theory seems to have been a realistic reason but for now we still don’t know why it was stopped. The Propylaea was constructed of white Pentelic marble. Gray Eleusinian marble or limestone was only used for accents. Though the Acropolis was not build as a fortified structure, it was said to be important that those who were not ritually clean would not be able to enter the sanctuary. Also, runaway slaves and other miscreants could not enter the sanctuary, for they could claim protection from the gods. The state treasury was also kept on the Acropolis, so the security of the Propylaea was very important.
The Temple of Athena Nike:
On the southwest of the Acropolis plateau, right next to the Propylaea stands The Temple of Athena Nike. The Temple of Athena Nike is considerably smaller than the other temples of the Acropolis, but symbolizes a big part of Greek history, The Goddess Athena. In ancient times, it was used as a place of worship for those who were associated with war. The temple faces to the east and its entrance is lined with four monolithic Ionic columns, which support a small porch. The west end was built the same; accept for they preceded a blind wall. The structure was designed by an architect named Kallikrates, and is estimated to had been completed between 432 and 421 B.C. It is about 11 feet tall, and built completely out of white Pentelic marble. The friezes of the building’s entablature were decorated on all sides in the classic style of the 5th century B.C Greece. Friezes were designed art that decorated the entablature of the temples. What make the Friezes of the Temple of Athena Nike so unique are the stories and events that the art tells. Since the temple was dedicated to the goddess of war and wisdom, the friezes that display on the temple are gods and battle scenes. The Temple of Athena Nike is by far one of the most preserved structures of the Acropolis. It was partially destroyed by the Persians around 480 BC.; and had been restored all through the late 1800’s and mid 1900’s.
The Parthenon: The Parthenon is one of the most famous surviving buildings in Ancient Greece, and is famous all around the world. After nearly 2,500 years, the remains of the Parthenon still stand atop of the Acropolis honoring the great goddess Athena. It was built to give thanks to Athena, for the salvation of Greece in the Persian Wars. The building was officially named “The Temple of Athena the Virgin”. The word “Parthenon” comes from the Greek word parthenos meaning, “virgin”. Construction of the Parthenon began in 437 BC, and was completed in 438 BC. Decorations continued being built until around 433 BC. Iktinos and Kallikrates, two Greek architects, were a part of the construction of the Parthenon. The mass foundations were made of limestone, and the columns were made out of Penetelic marble. The building itself was made out of local marble from Mount Pendeli. The temple did not house a crowd of worshipers, as churches did. Worshipers would sacrifice outside. Inside the temple also sheltered the 32 foot-high monumental statue of Athena, created by Phidias, that was made out of gold and ivory. What captures people’s attention to the Parthenon is not only the history of it, but the physical appearance of the structure. Its “Classic Greek” style architecture, using detailed designs and columns, makes the Parthenon unique and so aesthetically pleasing to look at. Its style influenced architecture for many centuries after it was built. On the Parthenon, there are absolutely no straight lines on it, which shows an organic character to a geometric structure. There are a total of 69 columns a part of the Parthenon, 46 outer pillars and 23 inner pillars. The friezes of the great temple were designed and crafted by hand, and were placed at the entablature of the Parthenon. After several of centuries, many surviving sculptures of the Parthenon have been preserved and are being shown to tourists all around the world in The Museum of London. The Parthenon has changed the way those have viewed ancient architecture, and is still an attraction to people all around the world.
The Erechthrion: The Erechthrion was dedicated to the legendary Greek demigodErichthonius, son of Hephaestus. Construction of the Erechthrion began around 420 BC and was finished around 406 BC during the Peloponnesian war. It was built as a replacement to an older temple that stood in its place before, to house all shrines and accommodate religious rituals. The architect of the Erechthrion is unknown, but may have been Mnesicles. The exterior of the temple in cooperated friezes all around the frame of the temple and was build completely out of marble and limestone. Most temples of the Acropolis have elaborate friezes that tell a story, but the friezes of the Erechthrion are unknown. The east end of the temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena, which housed the sacred wood diiepetes which had fallen from the heavens from her. The west end of the temple was dedicated to the god Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, which sheltered the marks on the rock where he struck his trident. The interior of the Erechthrion is one of the most limited things historians know about the great temple. It was damaged during the construction, but was renovated shortly after. The temple had elaborate carved doorways and windows, and the columns were ornately decorated with paint and gilded bronze.
The Temple of Zeus Polieus: The Temple of Zeus Polieus, also known as the Olympieon, began construction around the 6th century BC, but was not complete until the reign of the Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. Many may wonder why the magnificent temple took so long to build. What first happened was that in 515 BC, the tyrant Pisistratus settled in foundations of the temple, but when his son was over throne in 510 BC the work was abandoned. Work was not being done for much time after that, even during the years of the Greek Democracy it wasn’t touched at all. But then many years later in the period of the Macedonian Domination of Greece, in the 3rd century BC, Hellenistic King Anticochus IV of Syria wanted “the largest temple in the known world” to be built on the Acropolis. He hired a Roman Architect named Cossutious to start the construction, but when Anticochus died in 164 BC the construction was delayed again. Much later in the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian finally brought the Temple of Zeus Polieus to completion sometime around 129 AD or 131 AD. The temple is made out of marble, and unlike the other ruins of the Acropolis is a Greco-Roman style structure. Meaning, it was a combination of both Greek architecture and Roman architecture. It is greatly known for housing the great statue of Zeus, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and took about twelve years to make. The original building had 104 columns, which were 17 feet high, but only 15 still stand today. Over the centuries that passed the temple became to rupture due to earthquakes and was dissembled for materials, but still stands strong and beautiful today. It has given historians a perspective of how Roman and Greek architecture were connected and what it could have looked like when it was first built.
The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus are all a part of the magnificent Acropolis. These different ruins of the Acropolis have taught historians and architects of today the culture and life of Ancient Greece, and the changing from ancient society to modern society. The Acropolis is one of the oldest structures of the world, and has given us a piece of Greek history to cherish forever.
"Acropolis of Athens - Parthenon, Erectheio, Temple of Athena - Nike, Prolypaea, Acropolis Museum." Tour Trip Greece : Services and Information Related to Travel and Leisure : Athens Greece Hotels Restaurants Guide :. Tour-Trip-Greece.gr. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.tourtripgreece.gr/athens_guide/archaelogical/01.php> .
The Acropolis
The Acropolis, located in Athens, Greece, is one of the oldest ruins in Greece and is one of the most recognizable monuments of the world. The word Acropolis in Greek means “The Sacred Rock, The High City”. The Acropolis dominates all views of Athens. It is greatly known for its ancient ruins, and neat architecture. It consists of many different ruins such as The Propylaea, The Temple of Athena Nike, The Parthenon, The Erechtheion, and The Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus. After nearly 2,500 years, the Acropolis has still remained a central attraction to tourists all around the world and still inspires wonder.
The Propylaea:
The Propylaea was built as a monumental entrance to the Acropolis. It was designed and built by a man named Mnesikles, who was a Greek architect at the time. He had started building the Propylaea right after the construction of the Parthenon in 437 B.C. The construction went on for five years until it was stopped due to the Peloponnesian War. At the time the Propylaea was almost done being constructed, but there was some work that remained unfinished. Scholars believed that the construction was stopped to save resources for the war, this theory seems to have been a realistic reason but for now we still don’t know why it was stopped. The Propylaea was constructed of white Pentelic marble. Gray Eleusinian marble or limestone was only used for accents. Though the Acropolis was not build as a fortified structure, it was said to be important that those who were not ritually clean would not be able to enter the sanctuary. Also, runaway slaves and other miscreants could not enter the sanctuary, for they could claim protection from the gods. The state treasury was also kept on the Acropolis, so the security of the Propylaea was very important.
The Temple of Athena Nike:
On the southwest of the Acropolis plateau, right next to the Propylaea stands The Temple of Athena Nike. The Temple of Athena Nike is considerably smaller than the other temples of the Acropolis, but symbolizes a big part of Greek history, The Goddess Athena. In ancient times, it was used as a place of worship for those who were associated with war. The temple faces to the east and its entrance is lined with four monolithic Ionic columns, which support a small porch. The west end was built the same; accept for they preceded a blind wall. The structure was designed by an architect named Kallikrates, and is estimated to had been completed between 432 and 421 B.C. It is about 11 feet tall, and built completely out of white Pentelic marble. The friezes of the building’s entablature were decorated on all sides in the classic style of the 5th century B.C Greece. Friezes were designed art that decorated the entablature of the temples. What make the Friezes of the Temple of Athena Nike so unique are the stories and events that the art tells. Since the temple was dedicated to the goddess of war and wisdom, the friezes that display on the temple are gods and battle scenes. The Temple of Athena Nike is by far one of the most preserved structures of the Acropolis. It was partially destroyed by the Persians around 480 BC.; and had been restored all through the late 1800’s and mid 1900’s.
The Parthenon:
The Parthenon is one of the most famous surviving buildings in Ancient Greece, and is famous all around the world. After nearly 2,500 years, the remains of the Parthenon still stand atop of the Acropolis honoring the great goddess Athena. It was built to give thanks to Athena, for the salvation of Greece in the Persian Wars. The building was officially named “The Temple of Athena the Virgin”. The word “Parthenon” comes from the Greek word parthenos meaning, “virgin”. Construction of the Parthenon began in 437 BC, and was completed in 438 BC. Decorations continued being built until around 433 BC. Iktinos and Kallikrates, two Greek architects, were a part of the construction of the Parthenon. The mass foundations were made of limestone, and the columns were made out of Penetelic marble. The building itself was made out of local marble from Mount Pendeli. The temple did not house a crowd of worshipers, as churches did. Worshipers would sacrifice outside. Inside the temple also sheltered the 32 foot-high monumental statue of Athena, created by Phidias, that was made out of gold and ivory. What captures people’s attention to the Parthenon is not only the history of it, but the physical appearance of the structure. Its “Classic Greek” style architecture, using detailed designs and columns, makes the Parthenon unique and so aesthetically pleasing to look at. Its style influenced architecture for many centuries after it was built. On the Parthenon, there are absolutely no straight lines on it, which shows an organic character to a geometric structure. There are a total of 69 columns a part of the Parthenon, 46 outer pillars and 23 inner pillars. The friezes of the great temple were designed and crafted by hand, and were placed at the entablature of the Parthenon. After several of centuries, many surviving sculptures of the Parthenon have been preserved and are being shown to tourists all around the world in The Museum of London. The Parthenon has changed the way those have viewed ancient architecture, and is still an attraction to people all around the world.
The Erechthrion:
The Erechthrion was dedicated to the legendary Greek demigod Erichthonius, son of Hephaestus. Construction of the Erechthrion began around 420 BC and was finished around 406 BC during the Peloponnesian war. It was built as a replacement to an older temple that stood in its place before, to house all shrines and accommodate religious rituals. The architect of the Erechthrion is unknown, but may have been Mnesicles. The exterior of the temple in cooperated friezes all around the frame of the temple and was build completely out of marble and limestone. Most temples of the Acropolis have elaborate friezes that tell a story, but the friezes of the Erechthrion are unknown. The east end of the temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena, which housed the sacred wood diiepetes which had fallen from the heavens from her. The west end of the temple was dedicated to the god Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, which sheltered the marks on the rock where he struck his trident. The interior of the Erechthrion is one of the most limited things historians know about the great temple. It was damaged during the construction, but was renovated shortly after. The temple had elaborate carved doorways and windows, and the columns were ornately decorated with paint and gilded bronze.
The Temple of Zeus Polieus:
The Temple of Zeus Polieus, also known as the Olympieon, began construction around the 6th century BC, but was not complete until the reign of the Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. Many may wonder why the magnificent temple took so long to build. What first happened was that in 515 BC, the tyrant Pisistratus settled in foundations of the temple, but when his son was over throne in 510 BC the work was abandoned. Work was not being done for much time after that, even during the years of the Greek Democracy it wasn’t touched at all. But then many years later in the period of the Macedonian Domination of Greece, in the 3rd century BC, Hellenistic King Anticochus IV of Syria wanted “the largest temple in the known world” to be built on the Acropolis. He hired a Roman Architect named Cossutious to start the construction, but when Anticochus died in 164 BC the construction was delayed again. Much later in the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian finally brought the Temple of Zeus Polieus to completion sometime around 129 AD or 131 AD. The temple is made out of marble, and unlike the other ruins of the Acropolis is a Greco-Roman style structure. Meaning, it was a combination of both Greek architecture and Roman architecture. It is greatly known for housing the great statue of Zeus, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and took about twelve years to make. The original building had 104 columns, which were 17 feet high, but only 15 still stand today. Over the centuries that passed the temple became to rupture due to earthquakes and was dissembled for materials, but still stands strong and beautiful today. It has given historians a perspective of how Roman and Greek architecture were connected and what it could have looked like when it was first built.
The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus are all a part of the magnificent Acropolis. These different ruins of the Acropolis have taught historians and architects of today the culture and life of Ancient Greece, and the changing from ancient society to modern society. The Acropolis is one of the oldest structures of the world, and has given us a piece of Greek history to cherish forever.
Works cited
WEBSITES
Parthenon & Erechthieum
Synodinos, George, and Victoria Sandels. "Acropolis, Greece." In2Greece.com - Travel Guide to Greece Greek Islands History Mythology and Maps. In2Greece. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.in2greece.com/english/places/historical/mainland/acropolis.htm>.
Sup
The Acropolis
"Acropolis Athens Greece." Greece-Athens.com - The Guide To Athens City, Greece. Greece-Athens. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.greece-athens.com/place.php?place_id=1>.
"Acropolis of Athens - Parthenon, Erectheio, Temple of Athena - Nike, Prolypaea, Acropolis Museum." Tour Trip Greece : Services and Information Related to Travel and Leisure : Athens Greece Hotels Restaurants Guide :. Tour-Trip-Greece.gr. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.tourtripgreece.gr/athens_guide/archaelogical/01.php>
.
Propylaea
"Propylaea." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylaea>.
"Propylaia." Ancient Greece. Ancient-Greece.org. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/propylaia.html>.
Temple of Athena Nike
"Temple of Athena Nike." Ancient Greece. Ancient-Greece.org. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/athena-nike.html>.
"Temple of Athena Nike." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 13 Oct. 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Athena_Nike>.
"Temple of Athena Nike - Athens, Greece." Sacred Sites at Sacred Destinations - Explore Sacred Sites, Religious Sites, Sacred Places. Sacred Destinations, 26 June 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-temple-of-athena-nike>.
"Temple of Athena Nike at Athens." Visit Ancient Greece. Visit-Ancient-Greece.com. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.visit-ancient-greece.com/temple-of-athena-nike.html>.
Parthenon
"Parthenon - Athens, Greece." Sacred Sites at Sacred Destinations - Explore Sacred Sites, Religious Sites, Sacred Places. Sacred Destinations, 30 July 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-parthenon>.
"Parthenon." Ancient Greece. Ancient-Greece.org. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/parthenon.html>.
Erechtheion
"Erechtheion." Ancient Greece. Ancient-Greece.org. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/erechtheion.html>.
"Erechtheion - Athens, Greece." Sacred Sites at Sacred Destinations - Explore Sacred Sites, Religious Sites, Sacred Places. Sacred Destinations, 30 July 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-erechtheion-temple>.
Temple of Zeus Polieus
"Temple of Olympian Zeus - Athens, Greece." Sacred Sites at Sacred Destinations - Explore Sacred Sites, Religious Sites, Sacred Places. Sacred Destinations, 30 July 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-temple-of-olympian-zeus>.
"Temple of Zeus, Olympia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Zeus,_Olympia>.
BOOKS
Senker, Cath. Uncovering History: Everyday Life in Ancient Greece. North Mankanto, Minnesota: Smart Apple Media, 2001. Print.
Powell, Anton. Ancient Greece. New York, New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2007.Print.